The Liberal Arts
The curriculum and the academic experiences at Rockford University are founded on the liberal arts and extend into professional and experiential opportunities so that all majors are expansive, integrative and inclusive. We know that the liberal arts are the most practical form of education one can acquire, because it creates the power to learn, grow, and make choices throughout life. The liberal arts prepare students for their first and subsequent careers. We define liberal arts learning not by naming specific traditional disciplines, but by the breadth of knowledge, skills and values that is available to all students. Whatever one’s major, from accounting to the social sciences, students at Rockford University learn to connect different forms of learning to each other and to ask questions from both within and outside individual disciplines. At Rockford University we provide the resources to develop academic, social, civic and personal educational experiences in the liberal arts and academic disciplines of the University. Our liberal arts education gives students the knowledge and skills as well as values to be ethical; knowledge and values require skills to be effective; and values and skills without knowledge are at best empty, and at worst, destructive.
General Education
General education structures the development of knowledge, values, and skills on which higher learning in all disciplines depends and that mark the achievement of higher learning no matter the discipline. These experiences combine with several others to form the general education program for all students: a First-Year Seminar, common first-year experiences, opportunities for applied or community-based learning experiences, and a set of course requirements distributed across academic disciplines. Taken together, the Rockford University general education program provides students the foundation for fulfilling lives and effective participation in their professions and the civic life of their communities.
An essential, but supportive component to our general education program is a universal, upper-division graduation requirement in rhetoric, argumentative writing, and oral communication. This experience builds on earlier work in basic communication skills, raises the standard expected of all Rockford University students, and prepares them for the senior seminar required in all majors.
Learning Expectations of Rockford University Graduates
Rockford University graduates contribute to the world as knowledgeable, ethical and productive citizens with the necessary resources to be active, effective and reflective: knowledge for understanding the world, values for envisioning the world, and skills for shaping the world.
Knowledge for Understanding the World
Knowledge is foundational for developing skills and values. A rigorous liberal arts education provides opportunities for acquiring both general and discipline-specific knowledge. Such knowledge enables graduates to understand the world as it exists and how it came to be, and to envision how it might be. Graduates acquire knowledge of individuals, the social world, and the natural world.
- Knowledge of individuals. Understand the strengths, aspirations, aptitudes and limitations of self and other individuals; the explicit and implicit aspects of identity; and the functioning of individuals in context. Develop self-knowledge to set and achieve life goals.
- Knowledge of the social world. Understand the history, culture, structure and function of U.S. and other world societies, and how societies affect individuals and groups through their institutions, principles, traditions and values.
- Knowledge of the natural world. Understand the structures and principles of the natural world recognizing its beauty, complexity, richness and value.
Values for Envisioning the World
Values are explored, debated and formed at Rockford University. Graduates are educated to make ethically informed choices as individuals and citizens within a democratic society and the world community. Values for ethical decision-making are learned throughout the University experience, which emphasizes creative and experiential learning. Values for a better world include those relating to self, others, society and nature.
- Valuing individuals. Discern the consequences of personal behavior for one's self and on others; practice civility, courage, curiosity, honesty, independence, integrity, objectivity, open-mindedness and perseverance. Develop the aesthetic, intellectual, professional and social realms of one’s life.
- Valuing society. Value and exercise one’s civic rights and obligations in the community, nation and world. Critically and creatively assess one’s own and others’ cultures and societies; strive to shape public policies and work for justice.
- Valuing nature. Acknowledge humanity as a part of nature, understanding the value of scientific and aesthetic inquiry for the quality of the natural world.
Skills for Shaping the World
The liberal arts at Rockford University embody a set of skills and habits of mind. These skills and habits include thoughtful analysis, precise communication and creative and effective application. Living in complex and diverse situations requires making connections among knowledge, values and behavior.
- Individual skills. Listen, read, speak, and write effectively and professionally; use basic mathematical concepts and operations; think creatively and logically, analytically and synthetically; and evaluate appropriately. Applying these skills for decision-making may involve using technology.
- Social skills. Creatively use information from multiple disciplines, perspectives and technologies; work collaboratively; and communicate effectively in groups to understand, manage and solve complex issues, situations, and problems.
- Scientific skills. Devise, test, and verify hypotheses and evaluate results for their effects; gather data and evidence systematically using appropriate technology; and correctly apply scientific methods to problems in the natural and social worlds.
In summary, the Rockford University experience leads to a life of active learning, personal development, professional growth, and informed citizenship.
Washington Semester
As juniors or seniors, students may be able to spend a semester in specialized study of American government and public policy at the American University in Washington, D.C. Detailed information on program opportunities and requirements as well as applications are available from the program advisor, Dr. Ron Lee, 815-226-4077; e-mail: rlee@rockford.edu.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Through Rockford University’s affiliation with the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, students can secure internships at any of the thousands of organizations – governmental, for-profit and nonprofit – with which the center maintains ties. The University grants the credit and reviews the student’s work to determine the final course grade, while the center provides placement, supervision, academic courses and housing, all at a reasonable cost. All majors may apply. More information is available through Rockford University’s liaison with the center, Dr. Catherine Forslund, 815-394-5211, e-mail: cforslund@rockford.edu.
Academic Honor Societies
Alpha Beta Lamda
Alpha Beta Lamda installed Chapter Rho Epsilon at Rockford University in 2023. A nationally recognized honor society for adult learners with more than 75 years of established history in higher education. Chapter Councilor, Toni Rowe
Chi Alpha Sigma
Chi Alpha Sigma is the first national scholar-athlete society to honor those collegiate student-athletes who have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition. Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes college students who receive a varsity letter in their sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA throughout their junior and/or senior years. Rockford University is 1 of 284 national members and is 1 of 17 member institutions in the state of Illinois.
The governing board represents all levels of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Its purposes are as follows:
- To encourage and reward high academic scholarship of college athletes at four-year accredited colleges and universities;
- To recognize outstanding academic achievement by intercollegiate varsity letter winners;
- To encourage good citizenship, moral character, and friendship among the high academic achievers in college athletics;
- To recognize and honor the individual athlete, his/her team, sport, athletic department, and college or university;
- To mentor and to provide leadership to other athletes.
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History installed a chapter at Rockford University in 1987. The society is dedicated to the recognition of outstanding achievement in history. Membership requires at least 12 semester hours of history with a grade point average greater than 3.0, and a minimum 3.0 grade point average overall. More information is available from the chapter’s advisor, Dr. Catherine Forslund, e-mail: cforslund@rockford.edu
Phi Beta Kappa
The Eta of Illinois chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), a national scholastic honor society, was installed at Rockford University in 1953. It is one of only 11 PBK chapters in the state of Illinois. Election to PBK is the highest academic honor an undergraduate student can receive. Each year during the spring semester, faculty and staff members of PBK review the work of those students eligible for consideration. Election into the society is based on grade point average, good character, and course work demonstrating a clear commitment to the liberal arts. In order to be a member, a student must have taken courses in the areas of literature, history or classical civilization, natural sciences and mathematics, philosophy or social sciences, foreign language, and history or theory of an art form. Senior candidates for all degrees who meet the above criteria and have been in residence at the university for at least four semesters are eligible for election. For details, see the University website at https://www.rockford.edu/academics/pbk/
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the international honor society in psychology. The purpose of Psi Chi is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology. http://www.rockford.edu/academics/departments/psychology/psichi/
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi is the honor society of research scientists and engineers. It is an international, multidisciplinary society whose programs and activities promote the health of the scientific enterprise, reward excellence in scientific research and encourage a sense of companionship and cooperation among scientists in all fields.